The Truth About Tap Water

The Truth About Tap Water

[This article appeared in a local newspaper recently.]

“While the tap water you drink may look clean, it may also contain harmful contaminants. These include lead, pesticides and industrial pollutants. They may be picked up on the journey from your water treatment plant through miles of pipes to your home.

“To help clear up any misconceptions about what’s really in your water, the experts at PUR offer this myth-busting advice:

“Myth: Living close to a fresh water source makes tap water safer to drink.

“Truth: Even if you live close to a fresh water source, your water goes on a long journey through an often aging infrastructure before it reaches your tap. According to Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc., up to 100 million lead service lines are still in use in the country today. Potentially, this allows lead particles to enter your water.

“Truth: There are about 100,000 potential contaminants in drinking water. According to the EPA, its Safe Drinking Water Act only regulates 103. That means water that meets the government’s safe drinking standards may not meet yours.

“Myth: All water filters are created equal.

“Truth: While both pitcher and faucet filters remove unwanted contaminants, a faucet filter is usually a step up from a pitcher. This is because it has a longer life and can remove even more contaminants, including lead. [Editor: A Reverse Osmosis filter system can and does remove even more.] As every brand is different, it’s important to check the types of contaminants each filter removes. You can then confirm that it is certified by NSF and the Water Quality Association for contamination reduction. Doing so can help you get the healthiest, cleanest tasting water possible. [Crescent Hills Water is certified by both NSF and the Water Quality Association, plus the Texas Water Quality Association.]

“Myth: You can determine if tap water is safe to drink by how it looks, smells and tastes.

“Truth: While your water might look, smell and taste clean, it could contain contaminants that are potentially harmful to your health. These include lead, which is colorless, odorless and has no taste.

“‘Knowing what’s in the water you drink and cook with is important, but determining the quality of your local water supply can seem daunting,’ said Keri Glassman, registered dietitian, nutritionist and PUR spokesperson. ‘Fortunately, there’s a free online resource called KnowYourWater.com. It allows users to type in any address to easily learn about lead and other possible contaminates in their water.’

[Editor: I went to the web site KnowYourWater.com, and it turns out that it is owned by PUR. So, while the information given about my address is interesting, information on lead contamination in my water was not available. The web site is really more of an ad selling PUR’s services. I’ll stick with Crescent Hills Water’s Reverse Osmosis filtering.]

“Myth: Boiling water removes lead.

“Truth: Boiling water may reduce bacteria found in the water, but will not remove lead. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the lead concentration of water can actually increase slightly when water is boiled. This is because some of the water evaporates during the boiling process.”

Crescent Hills Water’s reverse osmosis filtering system removes 99% of harmful minerals and chemicals, including lead. If you want to start taking advantage of the benefits of a reverse osmosis system in your home or office, contact us today. We’re right here in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex! Call 817-424-3947 or use our online contact form.